Republicanism

In 2004 Reeves attracted controversy by making a statement in
support of New Zealand becoming a
republic, stating in an interview, "...if renouncing
knighthoods was a prerequisite to being a citizen of a republic, I
think it would be worth it."[1]
However, he subsequentially stated that he did not want to partake
in a debate on the matter.

Police
Tasers

Governor-General

On the advice of Prime Minister David Lange, Queen Elizabeth II appointed
Reeves as the 16th Governor-General of New
Zealand on 22 November 1985. His appointment was met with some
scepticism due to his previous political involvement in Citizens
for Rowling, opposing the 1981 Springbok
Tour, and the fact that he was an ordained Bishop. The Leader of the
Opposition, Jim
McLay opposed the appointment on these grounds,[3]
stating "How can an ordained priest fulfil that [constitutional]
role?". However, many Maori groups welcomed the appointment, with
Sir James Henare arguing "It must be a fruit of the Treaty of
Waitangi to see a person from our people".[3]
He was the first (and up to the present day the only) cleric
to hold the post. Moreover, as a member of the Puketapu Hapu of the
Te Atiawa of Taranaki, he was the first (and again,
only) Governor-General to be at least partially of Māori descent (although not
the first to be fluent in Te Reo Māori).

During his term, Sir Paul joined the Newtown Residents'
Association, and invited members of that association to visit
Government House.

Reeves went on to chair the Fiji Constitution Review Commission from 1995 until 1997, culminating in Fiji's readmission to the Commonwealth, until its
suspension in 2000. On 12 December
2007 it was reported that Reeves was involved with "secret talks"
to resolve Fiji's year-long political crisis, following the 2006 Fijian coup d'état[4].

There was some concern regarding Reeves' using the title
Sir, as members of the clergy in the Church of
England do not usually receive this title when knighted, and
the same rule presumably applied to the Anglican
Church in New Zealand. To avoid placing the Queen in an awkward
situation (Governors General would by tradition be knighted by her
in person at Buckingham Palace), the Prime
Minister of the time, David Lange, made Reeves a Knight Bachelor
before meeting her. Consequently, when Reeves went to receive the
GCMG from the Queen,
he was already Sir Paul.

Arms

Arms of Paul Reeves

Notes

The arms of Paul Reeves consist
of:

Crest

Upon a helm with a wreath Argent
and Azure a circlet of the Maori poutama stepped pattern, stantant
thereon a tui or parson bird (Prosthemadera novaseelandiae) Proper
holding aloft in its dexter claw three feathers Argent their quills
crossing in base.

Escutcheon

Per pale and per chevron embowed
and enhanced Argent and Azure, three mitres (two and one) the
infulae adorned with the Maori pitau kowhaiwhai pattern and three
estoiles (one and two) all Counterchanged, in the fess point a
royal crown and cap of estate Proper.

Supporters

On the dexter a brown kiwi (Apteryx
australia) and sinister a kotuku or white heron (Egretta alba)
beaks downward Proper each gorged with an ancient crown and
supporting with the interior foot crozier Gold with the shaft
adorned with the Maori pitau kowhaiwhai pattern Proper.